BOW VALLEY – Everyone wants to hit it like Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. these days.
A milestone was set by the Bow Valley Little League with 180 registrations in 2022 and has risen in numbers every season for at least six years for its 14 baseball teams and programs from Tim Bit (age four) to Big League (U22).
“We haven't really played baseball for two years [and] I think like everything else, there's a bit of pent up demand," said Brenda Ostman, operations manager for Bow Valley Little League.
"It's great that the numbers keep increasing. It's great that we have kids involved in baseball."
Ostman added it’s the max number of players the Canmore-based league can have without exploring ball diamond options in Exshaw and Banff. When the league was created a little over 10 years ago, 50 kids had registered for its inaugural season and it has steadily grown in popularity since.
Ostman said she has also noticed more spectators in the bleachers over the years coming out to catch a ball game.
Some of that boost in numbers can be attributed to the success of the Blue Jays.
In the Majors last season, Toronto's home run king Guerrero Jr. tied for first place with 48 dingers.
In 2016, the local league had its biggest growth spurt ever a few months after former Blue Jay José Bautista smacked a home run heard across Canada in the 2015 playoffs, and, simultaneously tossed the greatest and most in-your-face bat flip ever. The Bow Valley Little League numbers jumped to 140 athletes that year, up 20, from prior seasons.
"When the Blue Jays were in the playoffs that year, that was our biggest bump," said Ostman. "The other thing that has happened is because we've grown and because we're playing all over Canmore at the moment ... we're getting that much more exposure and I still have parents email me and tell me they didn't even know baseball existed in the valley."
For games in Canmore, teams play at the diamonds at Millennium Park, Elk Run and Our Lady of the Snows. The season typically lasts about eight weeks in May and June. For the Big League team, the Bow Valley Blues, it travels outside of the valley as well as hosts games against Calgary squads.
For a full schedule of Canmore games and locations, visit www.bowvalleyll.com.
In its first full season since 2019 and still in the early stages, the Bow Valley Little League is seeking volunteers and a new operations manager moving forward as Ostman will be stepping down following this season.
"We have some help for sure, and as with everything, volunteers are tough to come by, particularly volunteers that know the sport of baseball," said Ostman.
"If anyone is interested in volunteering or to take over baseball, or there's a group of people, which would be the best scenario for us, I'd be happy to talk to anyone about what's involved or what's happening next year."
